What can financial coaching actually do that books, budgeting apps, podcasts and even AI can’t?

In Part 2 of My Money Circle’s financial coaching FAQ series, Rebecca and Anthony unpack some of the questions that often sit beneath the surface when people consider getting help with their money. They explore why having access to more information doesn’t necessarily create better financial outcomes, and why knowing what to do can be very different from actually doing it.

From budgeting apps and finance books to podcasts and AI tools, there has never been more financial information available. But without context, accountability and someone to help you work through your own circumstances, all that information can sometimes lead to more questions, confusion or even decision paralysis.
Rebecca and Anthony discuss where financial coaching fits into the picture, particularly for people who feel like they’ve tried everything but still aren’t making the progress they want. Coaching can help identify the decisions you’re avoiding, the things you’re waiting for and the barriers you may not even realise are holding you back.

They also tackle the big question: “What do I actually get out of financial coaching?”

Using everything from tennis coaching to personal training as analogies, they explain why there isn’t one standard outcome. One person may need help with cash flow, another may need clarity around a financial decision, while a couple may simply want to get better at managing money together. The value comes from working on the areas that matter specifically to you.

The conversation also explores one of the most powerful potential outcomes of coaching: a greater feeling of control. Instead of feeling like life and money are simply happening around you, having support can help you take the steering wheel, make clearer decisions and feel more confident about the direction you’re heading.

In This Episode

• Why books, apps, podcasts and AI can provide information without necessarily creating action
• The missing pieces of accountability, engagement and personalised context
• Why budgeting apps often tell you what already happened rather than what to do next
• How consuming too much financial information can create decision paralysis
• Why your income, debt, employment, goals and risk tolerance all change what the right path looks like
• Where financial coaching sits alongside financial advice and other financial services
• What you can actually expect to get from financial coaching
• Why coaching outcomes are different for every person and every couple
• The importance of cash flow, regardless of how much you earn
• Why starting early and making small course corrections can create significant long-term results
• How financial coaching can create relief, clarity, motivation and a greater sense of control
• Why people sometimes hesitate to invest in services where they have to participate in creating the result
• What a structured financial coaching session actually looks like
• Why getting help with money should be no different from getting help with fitness, your career, your health or your business

Financial coaching isn’t about handing over your finances and expecting somebody else to fix everything. It’s a collaborative process, and sometimes the biggest breakthrough comes simply from having the right person to help you think through the problem, simplify the next step and move forward.

If you’ve read the books, downloaded the apps, listened to the podcasts and still feel like you’re circling the same financial questions, this episode is for you.

Have a money question you’d like Rebecca and Anthony to unpack in a future episode? Send it through and join the conversation.

#MyMoneyCircle #FinancialCoaching #MoneyManagement #FinancialWellbeing #PersonalFinance #FinancialAdvice #FinancialLiteracy #MoneyMindset #Budgeting #CashFlow #FinancialConfidence #MoneyGoals #FinancialPlanning #FinancialEducation #MoneyPodcast #AustralianFinance #FinancialFreedom #MoneyHabits #WealthMindset #PodcastAustralia

Disclaimer: My Money Circle is a corporate authorised representative of Novis Capital Limited. The information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial product advice. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed financial adviser.

In Episode 7 of the My Money Circle Podcast, Rebecca Marfe and Anthony Matthews tackle some of the most common questions about money, financial coaching and where different types of financial support fit.

This is Part One of a two-part FAQ series, exploring the difference between financial coaching, financial advice and financial counselling, and why understanding those differences can help you find the right support for your situation.

Rebecca explains that while a financial adviser provides regulated, personalised financial product advice, a financial coach works with the person managing the money. Coaching focuses on education, understanding options, building confidence, creating practical systems and helping people follow through on financial decisions.

Anthony and Rebecca also discuss why having a financial plan does not always mean the plan will happen. Life changes, unexpected expenses, habits, emotions and a lack of accountability can derail even a well-constructed strategy. Financial coaching can help bridge the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.

The conversation also explores financial counselling and why it serves a different purpose. Financial counselling is generally designed to support people experiencing genuine financial hardship, particularly where debt and creditors are involved. Coaching is more focused on helping people build financial capability, confidence and systems before reaching crisis point.

Budgeting and cash flow are another major focus. Rebecca explains why a budget is only the starting point. Knowing what comes in and what goes out creates clarity, but cash flow management turns those numbers into a practical system that works with your payday, accounts, expenses and everyday life.

They also unpack one of the biggest misconceptions about money: knowing what to do does not automatically mean you will do it. Just like reading healthy cookbooks does not automatically change the way you eat, consuming books, podcasts and financial information does not automatically change financial behaviour.

Ultimately, money is about much more than numbers. Habits, identity, anxiety, values, relationships and life circumstances all influence the decisions we make.

Financial coaching is also not only for people who are struggling. Whether someone earns $50,000 a year, runs a business with irregular income or has millions invested, money can still create uncertainty, stress and unanswered questions. The numbers may change, but the need for clarity and someone to talk things through with can remain.

In this episode:

• Financial coaching vs financial advice
• Financial coaching vs financial counselling
• Why advice is regulated and personalised
• Why coaching focuses on the person managing the money
• The difference between receiving a plan and implementing it
• Accountability and ongoing support
• Why life can derail a financial plan
• Budgeting vs cash flow management
• Why you do not need everything worked out before coaching
• Behavioural finance and the psychology of money
• Managing irregular income
• Why financial stress can remain as income grows
• Retirement anxiety and the fear of running out of money
• Moving from accumulating wealth to spending it
• Values, inheritance, philanthropy and family decisions
• Knowing when a conversation requires a financial adviser
• Why there is no minimum income required to benefit from coaching

Whether you're trying to get control of everyday spending, wondering if you're doing enough for retirement, navigating a major life change or simply looking for someone to help make sense of your options, this episode provides a practical look at where financial coaching can fit.

Rebecca and Anthony continue the FAQ conversation in Part Two.

#MyMoneyCircle #FinancialCoaching #MoneyManagement #FinancialWellbeing #PersonalFinance #FinancialAdvice #FinancialLiteracy #MoneyMindset #Budgeting #CashFlow #FinancialConfidence #MoneyGoals #FinancialPlanning #MoneyPodcast #AustralianFinance

Disclaimer: My Money Circle is a corporate authorised representative of Novis Capital Limited. The information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial product advice. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed financial adviser.

The way you think about money has to change as your life changes.

In Episode 6 of the My Money Circle Podcast, Rebecca Marfe and Anthony Matthews explore the financial mindset shifts that come with some of life’s biggest transitions, including buying your first home, combining finances with a partner, having children and preparing for retirement.

Most financial conversations focus on the numbers. How much should you save? How quickly should you pay down your mortgage? How much superannuation will you need?

But the numbers are only part of the story.

Every major financial milestone can also affect your identity, your sense of security, your relationships and the way you define success.

In this episode, Rebecca and Anthony discuss:

• Why retirement requires a shift from saving to spending
• The fear of running out of money after you stop working
• How your career and job title can become connected to your identity
• Why retirees can struggle to give themselves permission to spend
• The go-go, slow-go and no-go stages of retirement
• What happens emotionally when your home deposit disappears at settlement
• The difference between being cash rich and asset rich
• How becoming a homeowner turns you into a debt and asset manager
• The growing financial pressure facing younger Australians
• How social media can create unrealistic expectations around success
• When parents should help their children financially
• The shift from managing money alone to managing it as a couple
• How couples can combine resources without losing financial independence
• Why communication matters when merging finances
• The financial and emotional changes that come with having children
• How money changes from choice and freedom to responsibility and obligation
• Why major life transitions can create unexpected identity challenges

The episode also examines the practical reality of moving from two incomes to one, managing childcare and household responsibilities, supporting adult children and balancing today’s lifestyle with tomorrow’s financial security.

These transitions are rarely simple. Buying a home can make you wealthier on paper while leaving you feeling financially vulnerable. Combining finances can increase your opportunities while reducing your individual control. Retirement can provide freedom while also creating fear about spending the money you spent decades building.

The goal is not to avoid these changes. It is to recognise when your old money mindset no longer fits your new stage of life.

Subscribe to the My Money Circle Podcast for honest and practical conversations about money, wealth, relationships, retirement and the financial decisions that shape everyday life.

What financial transition have you found the most difficult to navigate? Let us know in the comments.

#MyMoneyCircle #MoneyMindset #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #Superannuation #FirstHomeBuyer #HomeOwnership #MoneyAndRelationships #FamilyFinance #WealthBuilding #FinancialEducation

Disclaimer: My Money Circle is a corporate authorised representative of Novis Capital Limited. The information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial product advice. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed financial adviser.

Is avoiding risk actually putting your financial future at greater risk?

In this episode of the My Money Circle Podcast, Rebecca Marfe and Anthony Matthews unpack how risk influences almost every financial decision we make, from investing and superannuation to property, insurance, cryptocurrency and gambling.

Using real-world examples, including Sir Isaac Newton’s costly investing mistake during the South Sea Bubble, Rebecca and Anthony explore why intelligence alone doesn’t protect investors from emotional decisions, herd mentality or loss aversion.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The difference between good risk, bad risk and calculated risk
• How to understand your personal risk profile
• Why keeping all your money in “safe” investments can still be risky
• The difference between investing, speculating and gambling
• Why people often sell winning investments too early
• How loss aversion affects financial decision-making
• The dangers of chasing market trends and social media success stories
• How diversification can help protect your investment portfolio
• The role of life insurance, income protection and self-insurance
• Why having a plan matters more than trying to predict the market
• What Deal or No Deal can teach us about our appetite for risk

Whether you’re building wealth, reviewing your super, investing in property or considering higher-risk assets, this conversation will help you think more clearly about the risks you’re taking and the risks you may not realise you’re already exposed to.

The goal isn’t to avoid risk completely. It’s to understand it, prepare for it and make decisions that align with your financial circumstances and long-term goals.

Subscribe to the My Money Circle Podcast for practical conversations about money, investing, financial behaviour and building a more secure future.

Have a question you’d like Rebecca and Anthony to discuss? Leave it in the comments below.

#MyMoneyCircle #Investing #FinancialRisk #WealthBuilding #PersonalFinance #MoneyManagement #InvestmentStrategy #FinancialPlanning #Superannuation #Insurance #RiskManagement #FinancialEducation

Disclaimer: My Money Circle is a corporate authorised representative of Novis Capital Limited. The information provided in this podcast is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial product advice. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed financial adviser.